David D & David OG unanimously pick: Smith & Cross Jamaican Pot Still Rum - This is probably going to be the rum of the year for 2011 and 2012. There simply is no rum like the Smith & Cross on the market as we have all witnessed rum's brazen attempt to attack the single malt market. It's not that we don't love rums like El Dorado or Ron Zacapa, it's rather that they don't fit the classic definition of rum. The Smith & Cross is not a sherry-aged rum. It won't sweeten up your tongue. It is a bit hot and bit intense to sip straight, but it will blend seemlessly into the best cocktail recipes from the Savoy cocktail book. Need to make some Fishhouse Punch for your next party? Smith & Cross is the only option. Truly, the only option. I was lucky enough to taste the Black Tot rum, which retails at a hefty $1000 per bottle, and I had to say that it tasted very much like the Smith & Cross. Every major bar in the Bay Area is using this as the foundation of their cocktails. It's the only rum I recommend for 90% of in store purchases. No doubt about it - the Smith & Cross is the rum of the year.

I was surprised by how much of an agricole quality this rum had. It was not my favorite for sipping, especially as it is quite overproof. However, I found that it is superb at standing up to the ginger beer in a Dark and Stormy, and the overproof strength is a benefit here as well.

Recently we kicked ass in an ocean yacht race, I attribute some part of our success to the D&S's consumed at 1700 hours.

See http://neversealand.downtothesea.org/2010/09/06/windjammers-2010-first-place-div-c-winner-santa-cruz-bowl-first-to-finish-phrf-72/

At The Rum Project and forum (link below) we hold Smith & Cross Rum in great favor. It is a very difficult rum to find, but if you are so lucky as to find one, buy two. Like Pussers, S&C is a true classic rum, not like the many altered rums that have been "tweaked" with all manner of unlabeled additives, artificial flavors, glycerol and even sherry wine. Ugh. Not S&C.

For those who don't know rums in Jamaica use ferment from old "dunder pits", pungent leftovers from previous distillations. This leads to an incredible number of flavors that just don't appear in most rums. Most rums contain perhaps 30 to 50 esters, while Jamican rums may contain up to 1700. You read that right. In Jamaica rums are even classified by the number of esters: Common Cleans (80-150 esters, light and floral), Plummers (150-200 esters, light and fruity), Wedderburns (200+, deep fruity, heavy bodied and pungent) and last Continental Flavored/High Ester (50-1700 esters, by far the most pungent, acetones).

S&C is a combination of Plummers and Wedderburns. This rum is not for novices who prefer their altered sweet rums - it is pungent and overproof, but we'd suggest taking your time, letting it air, be patient. After a time, you may want to add a few drops of water which will release more of the aromas and flavors in the rum.

A great classic rum - compare to Pussers. Along with MGXO, Appleton Extra, Barbancourt 5 Star and Matusalem Gran Reserva 15, Smith and Cross represents a reference rum for the Jamaican style of rums.